He pays 38 million $ for this Ferrari 250 GTO... and uses it to play golf at weekends

When a Ferrari 250 GTO changes hands, the scenario is generally well known: discreet transport, air-conditioned garage, tailor-made cover and rare, highly supervised exits. But this time, the story didn't go according to plan. Just a few days after paying the equivalent of $38.5 million for one of the world's rarest Ferraris, its new owner couldn't resist taking it out for a game of golf.

An absolute icon turned weekend car

Sold at the Mecum sale in Kissimmee in January 2026, This 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO is no ordinary GTO. This is chassis 3729GT, the only example to leave the factory in a white color called Bianco Speciale. Where GTOs are almost inseparable from Rosso Corsa, this one embodies an almost unreal rarity.

Its history befits its status: owned by British racing driver John Coombs, then by Jack Sears for three decades, it then joined the collection of Jon Shirley, former chairman of Microsoft. Despite the years, it has never been extensively restored, retaining its mechanical and historical authenticity.

Under the hood, the 3.0-liter Tipo 168/62 V12, fed by six Weber carburetors, continues to produce around 300 hp. A powerplant capable of sending this '60s machine to 100 km/h in just over five seconds, and up to 274 km/h. But what makes this story truly unusual is neither its specification nor its pedigree.

A new owner who refuses to turn it into a relic

The man behind this extraordinary purchase is none other than David Lee, well-known Ferrari collector and head of the Hing Wa Lee Group. Already the head of a atypically organized collection (red Ferraris being classified as “ketchup”, yellow ones as “mustard” and other colors as “vegetables”) he had already explained that he saw the 250 GTO as the ultimate culmination of his quest.

But where many would have turned this car into a rolling museum piece, Lee did exactly the opposite. No sooner had the Ferrari been delivered to the front of his Los Angeles jewelry store than it was driven out onto the street. Not for a parade, not for an exhibition. Just to drive. A few days later, it was parked... in a golf course parking lot.

38.5 million Ferrari parked between Toyotas and Fords

The weekend after delivery, David Lee simply got behind the wheel of this iconic car and drove to a round of golf near Los Angeles. With no power steering, no screen, no navigation, no modern aids whatsoever, this 1962 Ferrari found itself parked alongside everyday cars, patiently waiting for its owner while he played.

An almost unreal scene for a model considered to be the absolute Grail of car collecting. On social networks, Lee summed up the experience simply: it was simply his “best day of golf in a long time”.